Envelop



Y mama.) 2 Sheets8he'et 1.

0. LEE & B. J. BALDWIN.

' BNVELOP.

No. 572,488. Pateted Dec. 1, 1896.

. 0. LEE 8 E; J. BALDWIN. gshaemshet n. L E v N B om 8 u 2 6 F M 5 M o m N Patented Dec. 1,1896.

T E Noam: PETERSCD. Pump-Limo, vusmuarou o c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES LEE AND EDWVIN JOHNSON BALDWIN, OF CARDIFF, TENNESSEE.

ENVELOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,488, dated December 1, 1896.

A li atio filed March 16,1896. Serial No. 583,404. No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES LEE and EDWIN JOHNSON BALDWIN, citizens of the United States, residing at Cardiff, in the county of Roane and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelops; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to paper manufactu res, and more especially to that class thereof known as envelops; and the object of the same is to produce an envelop comprising an improved form of pocket with an improved form of closing device at one end thereof.

To this end the invention consists in the envelop-pocket, its closing device, and the sealing flap or flaps, all as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated in the drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank from which the simpler form of our envelop is made Fig. 2 is a view of the blank seen in Fig. 1, with the upper or front'portion turned down behind the lower or back member. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the right and bottom flaps of Fig. 2 as turned in and their sealing-tongues as passed through the slits and gummed down. Fig. 5 is a similarview showing the left flap of Fig. 4 as having once been fastened and its tongue torn off, the flap having been opened again,so as to gain access to the pocket and in position for resealing. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a second form of our envelop. Fig. 7 is a similar view after the left half of the blank in Fig. 6 has been turned over and sealed onto the right half thereof. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the envelop shown in Fig. 6, but having two side flaps; and the dotted lines in this view indicate how the back might have two pairs of transverse slits and the side tongues might be made longer in order to work in conjunction therewith.

In all the views the fine dotted lines designate parts in the rear or modifications, the heavy dotted lines designate folds in the paper or printing thereon,the dotted lines which consist of round dots designate perforations,

and the solid lines designate either the edges of the blanks or cuts therethrough.

It is of course to be understood that the material from which this envelop is formed is preferably light but tough paper, cut by suitable machinery at the points indicated by the solid lines and preferably scored on the heavier dotted lines, so as to facilitate the folding of the various parts asis necessary.

\Ve do not confine ourselves to the exact details of construction herein described and claimed, as considerable change may be made therein without departing from the essential features of our invention. Neitherdo we limit ourselves to the exact sizes, shapes, proportions, or materials of parts.

The features common to all forms of our envelop are a back member B, provided with a pair of longitudinal slits Z and also adjacent one end with a pair of transverse slits If, there being formed integral with and projecting from this end of the back a tongue T, about of the relative size and shape shown, and a second part or member integral with one edge of the back member and therefore forming a wing, which wing constitutes the address member A, and is provided along its outer edge with a tapering flap F, having at its extremity a tongue T, adapted when folded properly to pass through the two longitudinal slits Z in the back and be turned back and sealed upon itself by means of the gum G, as indicated in the drawings by the shading. In addition to these two main members, the simpler form of our envelop has other end flaps, as seen on Sheet 1, and the other forms of our envelop have an additional end wing tached thereto by means of the long flap F and tongue T. The permanently-closed end of this pocket is formed by means of an end flap F, extending from the right end of the front A and terminating in a tongue T, and after folding the two main members together, as seen in Fig. 2, this end flap F is turned in and its tongue T passed through a second pair of transverse slits t" and turned back and sealed down upon itself, as seen in Fig. 4. The sealing of the flap F by its tongue T preferably occurs afterward, so that the body of this flap will lie across the nearly square corner f of the end flap F, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 41-, and assist to retain it in place. The other end of the pocket, which is opened for the insertion and removal of the letter or letters, is removably closed by a peculiar construction of flap and tongues that is common to all forms of our envelop. The flap F above described is provided in its body with a transverse slit 3 and at its outer end with a tongue T', whose body is transversely perforated, as at p, at the point where its neck connects with the flap F. After the pocket has been formed, as above described and as shown in Fig. 4, the letter is inserted at the open end of such pocket, the tongue T is doubled upon itself, as here shown, the flap F is folded over against the back B to close this open end of the pocket, and the tongue T' is passed through the double slits i and turned back'and gummed upon itself, as seen in Fig. 5. The envelop then makes a trip and the receiver opens the pocket by tearing off the tongue T on the line of perforations p, when the envelop presents the appearance shown in Fig. 5. The front of this form of envelop is provided with space for a double address, as seen in Fig. 1, and, after having read his message, if the recipient wants to reply he writes the answer, passes it into the pocket, passes the tip of the tongue T (which has not been torn off) through the slot 3 in the flap F, turns back the latter to close the pocket, and then either seals the tongue T with its gum down onto the back of the envelop and the remaining pieces of the torn-off tongue T or passes such tongue T under the piece of the tongue 1" and seals it in place. It will thus be seen that on the outward trip the flap. F, which closes the pocket, is held by means of the tongue T, while the other tongue, '1, lies inactive and in folded position under this flap, and that on the return trip after the tongue 1" has been torn off, as seen in Fig. 5, and hence is no longer available, the other inactive tongue, T, extends through the slit 3 and renders the same flap F again useful for closing the open end of the pocket. Although on this sheet of the drawings we have shown this closing means in connection with a specific form of permanent sealing devices, it will be understood that such closing means could be used with any form of envelop whose construction would permit, and it will be also clear that this closing means might be located along one side of the pocket, if preferred.

On Sheet 2 is shown two different forms of envelops embodying the same closing means, which will not, therefore, be again described. Figs. 6 and 7 show an envelop having, like that shown 011 Sheet 1, a single side wing A,

forming the front of the completed envelop and adapted to contain two addresses, if desired, as seen in Fig. '7, while Fig.8 shows a precisely similar envelop having two side wings A A and whose use will be described below. IVith this exception the envelops shown in these three views are alike, but they differ from the simpler form of our envelop shown on Sheet 1 in the sealing means. In Fig. 6 F designates a member contiguous to the back and having the shape of a long flap (or more properly a wing) projecting from the right end of the back B and having along its edges two narrow strips E, provided with gum, as indicated at G, and the closing flap F, with its tongue T, is preferably located at the outer end of this wing. In sealing up the blank here shown to form the pocket the back and front members are turned bodily over onto the wing F, as seen in Fig. 7, so that the gummed edges of E become permanently attached to the inner face of the back. Therefore the back 13 forms one side of the pocket, the fold-line 6 one end of the pocket, the wing F the opposite side of the pocket, (and later reinforced by the front member A, as above described,) and the fold-lines of the edge strips E, reinforced by the fold-lines at the edges of the front, form the closed edges of the pocket, while the open end of the pocket is removably closed by the flap F and its tongue in the same manner as described above.

In Fig. 8 is shown an envelop of precisely the same construction except that the front member is here made double, being provided at one side with a wing A, as in Fig. 6, in ad dition to which it has an opposite side wing A, provided with a flap F and a tongue T, the same as the outer edge of the wing A. The latter is also here provided with a trans verse line of perforationsp, adjacent its foldline with the back.

I11 the use of this envelop it is not necessary to write two addresses on the face of the front, as when there is but one side wing. The pocket being formed in the manner just described the return-address is written on the wing A, and this wing with its flap and tongue are folded in against the pocket. The first address is then written on the wing A and a stamp applied. This wing is folded behind the wing A, its flap F is brought around against the back, and its tongue T is passed through the longitudinal slits Z and sealed. with its gum. The envelop then makes its trip, and the receiver opens it by running a knife under the perforations p and also under a line of perforations p", which, we should have said, are here provided in the'neck of the tongue on the outermost wing A. This removes the face member A and its flap and leaves a piece of its tongue sealed in the slits Z. The letter is then obtained by opening the closed end of the pocket in the manner above described, and after reading the letter the return-message is Written and inserted at this point and the pocket resealed. The returnwing A is then opened out and passed across behind the pocket, its flap F brought down behind the back from theopposite direction, and its tongue T passed through the slits Z and under the piece of the first tongue that yet remains therein and is sealed in place.

The objection may be raised to the lastmentioned form of envelop that the tearing 0d of one tongue and leaving of its piece in the double slits Z will prevent a successful sealing therethrough of the second tongue T on the return trip. In order to overcome this objection, we have indicated in Fig. 8 a slight modification which consists in making the two tongues T somewhat longer, as shown in dotted lines, and in providing the back B with a doublepair of longitudinal slits, as indicated at Z. In the use of an envelop of this construction the return-win g A is folded in place, the first wing A is folded across it and its flap F brought around against the back, and the then longer tongue reaches nearly across the back and is sealed through the most remote pair of slits Z. On the return trip when the wing A is passed around in the opposite direction its flap F covers the torn-off tongue, and its tongue in turn reaches across to the other remote pair of slits Z and is sealed therein. From this description it will be clear that the two tongues T are never sealed into the same pair of slits, and hence there can be no confusion.

It will thus be seen that our invention consists in an envelop which is simple in its body fastening and sealing, each being easily and quickly effected by the use of a gummed tongue, but an envelop so secure in its peculiar method of sealing that itcannot be opened without cutting or tearing the paper.

'What we claim as new is 1. In an envelop, the combination with one member having a double transverse slit in its body and a tongue at its end; of a contiguous member folded upon the first and having a flap continuing beyond the end corresponding with said end tongue and provided with a transverse slit, and a tongue projecting from the outer end of the flap, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an envelop, the combination with the back member having in its body double transverse and longitudinal slits, and a side flap providedwith a lateral tongue; of a contiguous member folded upon the first and having a fiap continuing beyond the end correspon ding with said end tongue and provided with a transverse slit, and a tongue projecting from the outer end of the flap, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an envelop, the combination with the back member having in its body double transverse and longitudinal slits, a side wing, and a fiap continuing beyond the outer edge thereof and provided with a tongue; of a 0011- tiguous member folding upon the first and having a flap continuing beyond the end coring transversely perforated; of a contiguous I member folding upon the first and having a flap continuing beyond the end corresponding with said end tongue and provided with a transverse slit, and a tongue projecting from the outer end of the fiap, substantially as and for the purpose set'fort-h.

5. In an envelop, the combination with the back having in its body two parallel pairs of slits and a single pair at right angles thereto, and along flap having a tongue for engagement with said single pair; of the front adapted to fold transversely upon the back, two flaps carried by said front, and tongues on these flaps adapted for engagement with said two pairs of slits, one tongue being perforated across its neck, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an envelop, the combination with one member having in its body two pairs of longitudinal and one pair of transverse slits and provided with an end tongue, two opposite side wings, flaps continuing beyond the outer edges thereof, and a long tongue on each flap, one tongue being transversely perforated; of a contiguous member folding upon the first and having a fiap continuing beyond the end corresponding with said end tongue and provided with a transverse slit, and a tongue projecting from the outer end of the flap, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In an envelop, the combination with the back member having a longitudinal double slit, another member folded longitudinally thereon, narrow inturned-edge strips on this folded member gummed to the back to form a pocket, and means for closing the open end of such pocket; of an address member folded transversely across the pocket, and having at its outer edge a flap and a gummed tongue, adapted to engage with said slits, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In an envelop, the combination with the back member having a longitudinal double slit, another member folded longitudinally thereon, narrow inturned-edge strips on this folded member gummed to the back to form a pocket, and means for closing the open end of such pocket; of two opposite side wings, flaps oontinuin g beyond the outer edges thereof, and gummed tongues on such flaps, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In an envelop, the combination with one member having a double transverse slit in its body and a tongue at its end; of a contiguous member folding upon the first and having a flap continuing beyond the end come In testimony whereof We affix our signasponding With said end tongue and provided tures in presence of two Witnesses. with a transverse slit, a tongue projecting CHARLES LEE from the outer end of the flap, narrow edge 1 T T p ,7

5 strips on this folded member gulnmed to the EDWIN JOHLSOB BALD back to form a pocket, and an address mem- WVitnesses: ber folded over and secured to the Whole, as WILL S. MARTIN,

and for the purpose set forth. SUSAN MARTIN. 

